Bunion Specialist

Michfoot Surgeons PC

Podiatry & Foot & Ankle Surgery located in Southfield, MI

Bunion pain and inflammation can prevent you from doing the things you enjoy. Before enduring another day with bunion discomfort, see how expert podiatrists Randy Leff, DPM, and Kevin Sorensen, DPM, of Michfoot Surgeons PC can help. With so many effective bunion treatments available at this Southfield, Michigan, podiatric practice, you can get the relief you need, starting with your first appointment. Call the office, or click the online scheduler to book your visit.

Bunion Q & A

Why do I have bunions?

Bunions develop for all kinds of reasons, from genetics to footwear. Usually, podiatrists find that women who wear pointy, high-heeled, or snug-fitting shoes are more prone to developing bunions. If you wear ill-fitting footwear daily, for instance, your big toe constantly has to make room for itself by piling on top of your little toes.

When this happens regularly, your toe joint starts to change shape in an effort to keep your toe pointed in that abnormal, crooked direction. Although footwear can certainly contribute to developing bunions, they aren’t the only cause. You can also have bunions due to:

Inherited foot shape

Arthritic conditions

Prior foot injury

In some cases, you even develop a similar condition in your baby toe — for the same reasons — which is known as a bunionette.

What are the symptoms of bunions?

Usually, the most obvious sign that you have a bunion is the visible bony bump at the base of your big toe. Once you start developing this bulge, you may also experience:

Toe joint stiffness

Limited toe movement

Swelling and inflammation

Acute or chronic foot pain

Plus, because bunions actually cause your foot to change shape, you’re probably going to find that your shoes fit differently, and your bunion and big toe start rubbing the insides of your shoes. This can lead to embarrassing calluses and painful corns. Whether your bunion issues are minor or severe, the expert podiatrists at Michfoot Surgeons PC can help you get relief.

How are bunions treated?

Your bunion treatment plan at Michfoot Surgeons PC is entirely tailored to your foot shape, your lifestyle, and your specific symptoms. In most cases, it’s common to start out with conservative therapies such as:

Toe splinting

Padding and taping

Custom-designed orthotic inserts

Physical therapy or personalized stretches

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Though these solutions may help relieve your pain and discomfort, they don’t actually change your joint shape. The only way to correct your bunion permanently is through surgery. Since the highly skilled board-certified podiatrists at Michfoot Surgeons PC use minimally invasive techniques to realign your toe joint, you can feel confident that your procedure will be effective.